Bovey Basin Wild Walk

Details • Approx time: three hours • Approx length: four and a half miles • Terrain: Mainly level with some slopes, stiles and rough ground • Start: Bovey Heathfi eld (SX 824 765) • Child friendly : Suitable for children, • Dog friendly: Dogs on leads • Refreshments: Pubs and shops in Chudleigh Knighton and Heathfi eld • Public Transport: Stagecoach 39 Little Bradley Ponds

Species to look out for • Bog asphodel • Dodder • Grass snake • Green hairstreak • Nightjar • Bell heather • Grayling • Green woodpecker • Narrow headed ant • Adder • Stonechat • Dartford warbler (right) • Golden-ringed dragonfl y Dartford Warbler (Chris Root)

Introduction This walk takes in DWT’s three entertainment. There are some Contact details heathland nature reserves; Bovey short stretches of main road: care Heathfi eld, Little Bradley Ponds needs to be taken here. and Chudleigh Knighton Heath. All Wildlife Trust Cricklepit Mill lie close to in what is The route will provide stunning Commercial Road known as the Bovey Basin. views of Dartmoor, tranquil ponds buzzing with dragonfl ies and open EX2 4AB The walk is mainly on bridle paths expanses of heathland fi lled with 01392 279244 and minor roads and is the sound of rare birds such as [email protected] approximately four and half miles the Dartford warbler along with the www.devonwildlifetrust.org so will provide a good afternoon’s rustle of reptiles. Directions 1) Park on Dragoon Close next to DWT’s Bovey Farm. Follow the road round to the left for another mile Heathfi eld nature reserve (SX 824 765, Postcode TQ12 until you reach the end of the lane where you will fi nd 6TU) within the Heathfi eld Industrial Estate. Walk up to Little Bradley Ponds nature reserve. the reserve along the track to the signed entrance. 4) Walk around the two main ponds, there is a bench Follow the main path up to the plateau where there are looking down over the eastern pond where you can stop great views of this lowland heath site and Dartmoor. for a break. Leave the nature reserve and retrace your Bear right along the path towards two large factories to steps south back down the lane until you reach The Old the boundary where you will fi nd a stile onto a main road Stable. (Old Newton Road). 5) Once back at the Old Stable turn left and follow a 2) Turn right and walk along the road until you come to public bridle path. Follow this until you reach the sign the King Charles Business Park. Turn into the business for Chudleigh Knighton Heath nature reserve. Bear park and straight ahead you will see another DWT right here and follow the path until you reach a line of Bovey Heathfi eld sign and gate, this is the entrance to telegraph poles. Turn left at gate and follow boundary the nature reserve’s second compartment. until you come to a concrete post, take the path on left. Turn left at a water trough and follow the path back to the Go through this gate and take the path which leads you reserve entrance where you came in. straight on then bare right until you reach a kissing gate. Go through this and turn right, follow the bridle path for 6) Leave Chudleigh Knighton Heath and make your way 400yards until you come to another gate. Go straight back to the bridle path back down to the Old Stable. through this, past houses on your right until reaching a Once at this point head back along the road over road junction. the river and back onto the bridle path by the school. Turn right back along the bridle path to the second 3) Turn left at this road junction continue past Moor View compartment of Bovey Heathfi eld and follow your Primary School and follow the road for 300yards over footsteps back to your starting point at Bovey Heathfi eld the river until you come to The Old Stable/Little Bovey nature reserve entrance.

Key

4 Route Little Bradley Ponds Chudleigh Knighton Heath Reserve boundary Parking P

6

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2 The Old Stable

Moor View School Bovey Heathfield LNR 3

1 P

FEB 2012